Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

ततः प्रसादयामास शांडिलीं गरुडध्वजः । तदर्थं विनयोपेतः स्मितं कृत्वा द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

tataḥ prasādayāmāsa śāṃḍilīṃ garuḍadhvajaḥ | tadarthaṃ vinayopetaḥ smitaṃ kṛtvā dvijottamāḥ

Translation

Daraufhin suchte der Herr, dessen Banner Garuḍa trägt, Śāṇḍilī zu besänftigen; zu diesem Zweck, von Demut erfüllt und mit sanftem Lächeln, wandte er sich an die Vorzüglichsten der Zweimalgeborenen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (adverb: ‘then/thereupon’)

• प्रसादयामास: propitiated/pleased
• प्रसादयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• शाण्डिलीम्: Śāṇḍilī
• शाण्डिलीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāṃḍilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गरुडध्वजः: he whose banner is Garuḍa (Viṣṇu)
• गरुडध्वजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः ‘गरुडः ध्वजः यस्य सः’

• तदर्थम्: for that purpose
• तदर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb) ‘for that purpose’

• विनयोपेतः: endowed with humility
• विनयोपेतः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya + upeta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying the subject)

• स्मितम्: a smile
• स्मितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having made (having smiled)
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having done/made’

• द्विजोत्तमाः: the best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः ‘उत्तमाः द्विजाः’

Speaker

Sūta (narration of events; the action is by Garuḍadhvaja/Viṣṇu)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu (Garuḍadhvaja) approaches Śāṇḍilī with a soft smile and folded humility, addressing the foremost among the twice-born; the scene radiates reconciliation and devotional etiquette.

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Śāṇḍilī
• Garuḍadhvaja (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True greatness expresses itself as humility; honoring ascetic virtue restores harmony when offense has occurred.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The passage belongs to a Tīrthamāhātmya narrative, but this verse focuses on reconciliation rather than a named sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse emphasizes ethical conduct—vinaya and seeking prasāda (appeasement/blessing).